Brake-beam.



C. H. WILLIAMS, JR. BRAKE BEAM. PPLIATON FILED JULYv 24, 1909. 955,239.Patented Apr. 19,1910.

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Wl TMi l UruTED sTATEs PATENT ormoni.

CHARLES II. WILLIAMS, JR., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO CHICAGORAILWAY `EQU'IIIIVIEN'I COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OFILLINOIS.

BRAKE-BEAM.

To all whom fit may concern:

Be it known that I, CI-IARLEs H. WIL- LIAMS, Jr., a citizen of theUnited States, residing at Chicago, Illinois, have invented a certainnew and useful Improvement in Brake-Beams, oli which the following isl afull, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of thisspecification, in which- Figure 1 is a section taken through the centralportion of the end of a brake beam of my improved construction. Fig. 2is a transverse section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is anelevation of the end portion of a modiiied form of a beam and showingthe brake head in section. Fig. 4 is a section similar to Fig. 1 andshowing a further modified form of beam.

My invention relates generally to trussed brake beams, and moreparticularly to the means for uniting the ends of the compression andtension members of a trussed beam.

The principal objects of my invention are to construct a simple,inexpensive beam which may be readily assembled or taken apart,maintains its rigidity while in action or under load, and lcannot betaken apart until the brake heads are removed.

Brake beams of trussed construction are obviously stronger for a givenweight of material than are the so-called solid I or deck section beams,but their superiority in strength, weight, durability and economy ofrepairs, is frequently questioned, for the reason that composite orbuilt-up trussed beams tend to work loose at the different joints and todevelop lost motion. The prevailing types of so-called solid beamscannot be repaired satisfactorily with any degree of economy. I proposeto provide a beam wherein the defects above referred to are overcome,which beam is easily assembled or taken apart for the purpose of repair,and in which beam a broken tension member or truss rod can be easilyreplaced, thereby preventing the discarding of the entire beam structurein case the tension member or truss rod is broken or becomesinoperative.

A further object of my invention is to provide simple means whereby theends of the compression and tension members are Specification of LettersPatent.

Application filed July 24, 1909.

Patented Apr. 19, 1910.

serial No. 509,326.

united and interlooked without the assistance of the brake heads, thisconstruction combining the most desirable features of the solid trussand the composite or built-up beam.

To the above purposes, my invention consists in certain novel featuresof construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fullydescribed and claimed.

In the form of the beam shown in Figs. 1 and 2, 1 designates thecompression member which is in the form of' a channel, and formedintegral with the web thereof adjacent the ends, are lugs 2, againstwhich bear the inner ends of heads 3 formed integral with the ends ofthe tension member 5, the latter being in the form of a flat plate orbar. Formed through the central portion of the heads 3 are verticallydisposed apertures 6, and Jformed through the flanges at the top andbottom of the compression member are corresponding apertures 7 whichcoincide with said apertures 6. Vhen the heads 3 are properly seated inthe ends of the compression member against the lugs 2, wedge keys 8 aredriven through the coinciding apertures 6 and 7 thus rigidly uniting theends of the compression and tension members. The brake heads 9, ofordinary construction, are now fitted on to the conjoined ends of thecompression and tension members, and each head is fixed in position bymeans of a rivet or bolt 10 which passes through said head and throughthe wedge keyS. Thus the various parts of the beam structure are rigidlyunited at the ends, and a very strong, substantial and rigidconstruction is produced.

In the modified construction shown in Fig. 3, inclined shoulders 11 areformed on the compression and tension members adjacent their ends, andthus an interlocking joint is formed between the end portions of saidmembers. The brake heads are applied to the interlocking ends, saidheads being rigidly fixed to the beams by means of bolts or rivets 12,which pass through the ends of the tension member.

In the modified construction shown in Fig. 4, thrust blocks 13 arerigidly fixed to the inside of the compression member adj acent theends, and the ends of the tension member are bent double, as designatedby 14, the doubled-back portions engaging direct-ly against the ends ofthe thrust blocks 13. The brake heads in 'this arrangement are rigidlyfixed in position on the ends of the beam by means of bolts or rivets l5Which pass through said heads and through the doubled-back ends of thetension member.

hIy improved construction provides a beam which cannot be loosened ordis mantled until the brake heads are removed, and said beam combinesminimum Weight with great strength and rigidity. The design of the beampermits the use of very shallow heads, which is quite important in beamsutilized on trucks having short wheel bases, and said beam can be easilyand quickly taken apart and assembled for the purpose of repair.

It Will be readily understood that minor changes in the construction andform of my improved brake beam can be made and substituted for thoseherein shoun and described Without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

I claim:

l. In a trussed brake beam, a compression member having abrupt shouldersformed near its ends, a tension member having shoulders formed adjacentits ends, which engage the shoulders on the compression member,fastening means passing through the conjoined ends of the compressionand tension members, brake heads located upon the ends of said members,and independent fastening means for the brake heads.

2. In a trussed brake beam, a compression member, a tension member, theends of which are united, Wedge keys inserted through the united ends ofsaid members. brake heads located on the ends of said members, andindependent fastening devices passing through the Wedge keys for rigidlyfastening the brake heads on the beam.

3. In a trussed brake beam, a compression member, on the ends of whichare formed abrupt shoulders, a tension member, heads integral With theends thereof, which heads bear against the shoulders on the compressionmember, fastening devices seated in the heads and in the ends of thecompression member, brake heads arranged on the ends of said members,and independent fastening means for the brake heads.

it. In a trussed brake beam, the combination with a compression memberand tension member, the ends of which are provided with engagingshoulders, of fastening devices inserted through the conjoined ends ofthe members, brake heads located on the ends of said members, andindependent fastening devices for said brake heads.

In a` trussed brake beam, a compression member, a tension member, therebeing engaging shoulders formed on said members adjacent their ends,Wedge keys inserted through the ends of said members, brake headslocated on the ends of said members,

and independent fastening devices seated in the Wedge keys for fasteningthe brake heads on the beam.

G. In a trussed brake beam, a compression member, on the ends of whichare formed shoulders, a tension member, heads on the ends thereof, whichheads bear against the shoulders on the compression member, Wedge keysseated in the united ends of the compression and tension members, brakeheads arranged on the ends of said members, and inde-pendent fasteningdevices seated in the Wedge keys for rigidly fixing the brake heads onthe beam.

7. In a trussed brake beam, a compression member composed of a flangedbeam, a tension member, heads on the ends thereof, Which heads areseated between the flanges of the compression member at the endsthereof, and Wedge keys inserted through the flanges of the compressionmember and through the ends of the tension member.

S. In a trussed brake beam, a compression member, composed of a fiangedbeam, a tension member, heads on the ends thereof, Which heads areseated between the flanges of the compression member' at the endsthereof, Wedge keys inserted through the flanges of the compressionmember and through the ends of the tension member, and brake headsarranged on the conjoined ends of the compression and tension members.

9. In a trussed brake beam, a compression member composed of a flangedbeam, a tension member', heads on the ends thereof, which heads areseated between the flanges of the compression member at the endsthereof, Wedge keys inserted through the Hanges of the compressionmember and through the ends of the tension member, brake heads arrangedon the conjoined ends of the compression and tension members, andindependent fastening devices for said brakeheads.

lO. In a. trussed brake beam, a compression member composed of a flangedbeam, a tension member, heads on the ends thereof, which heads areseated between the flanges of the compression member at the endsthereof, Wedge keys inserted through the flanges of the compressionmember and through the ends of the tension member, brake heads arrangedon the conjoined ends of the compression and tension members, andindependent fastening devices seated in the Wedge keys for rigidlyfixing the brake heads on the beam.

ll. In a trussed brake beam, a flat plate tension member, heads integralwith the ends thereof, and there being Wedge key openings in said heads.

12. Inv a. trussed brake beam a channel shape compression member, andlugs integral With the inner faces of the Web of said member adjacentits ends.

13. In a trussed brake beam a channel shaped compression member therebeing Wedge key openings formed through the flanges of said memberadjacent its ends.

5 14. In a trussed brake beam and channel shape compression member, lugsintegral With the web of said member adjacent its ends7 and Wedge keyopenings formed through the flanges of said member adjacent 10 its ends.

15. In a trussed brake beam and Wedge key for uniting the meeting endsof the compression and tension members of the beam, and Which Wedge keyis provided with an aperture adapted to receive the rivet.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aix my signature in the presence of tWoWitnesses, this 2nd day of J uiy 1909.

CHARLES H. WILLIAMS, JR.

Witnesses:

EDWARD T. WALKER, JOSEPH W. WEINLAND.

